Da Nang is a good base precisely because it's surrounded by places that aren't Da Nang: a Hindu temple city in the jungle, an imperial capital, islands and mountains. Since the 2025 merger, several of them are technically inside the city limits, which tells you how big the city has become, not how short the drive is.

All admission prices below come from the city tourism portal's 2026 price list, published in January. The portal calls them reference prices that exclude extra services and may change.

Last verified: October 11, 2026. Confirm prices, hours and transport before you set out, and check the forecast in the autumn rainy season.

My Son: the Cham temple valley

If you do one trip, make it this one. My Son Sanctuary is a valley of Hindu temples built by the Champa kingdom from the 4th to the 13th century, about 68 kilometers southwest of central Da Nang and 36 kilometers from Hoi An, according to Wikipedia. UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

When the French scholar Henri Parmentier surveyed it from 1899, he found the remains of 71 temples. Much of the architecture was destroyed in a single week of U.S. bombing in August 1969. Restoration has been slow. India's Archaeological Survey restored temple groups A, H and K between 2017 and 2022, for $2.25 million.

  • Admission: 150,000 dong for international visitors and 100,000 dong for Vietnamese visitors. Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Tip: Go at opening time. The heat and the tour buses arrive together. Visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture first, and the ruins will make far more sense.

Hue: the imperial capital

Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyễn dynasty from 1802 to 1945, and its monument complex was inscribed by UNESCO in 1993, according to Wikipedia. It became a centrally governed city in 2025.

It's a long day trip, so the way you get there matters. The scenic tourist train over Hai Van Pass, launched in March 2024, took about three hours each way, Saigon Giai Phong reported. The road through the Hai Van tunnel is faster. Our guide to getting around without a motorbike covers the options. Many people stay a night, which is the better choice.

Cu Lao Cham: the islands

The Cham Islands are a group of eight small islands about 19 kilometers east of Hoi An, roughly half an hour by speedboat from the nearest mainland point, according to Wikipedia. They're part of a marine park that UNESCO recognizes as a biosphere reserve.

  • Fees: a 70,000-dong sightseeing ticket plus a 20,000-dong island sanitation fee. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Tip: Boats depend on the sea. In rough weather, trips get canceled, and that's the right call.

Hai Van Pass: the frontier road

The road over Hai Van Pass is the classic ride north, with sea on one side and forest on the other. The restored Hai Van Quan gate at the summit is free to visit. Read our history of the pass before you go. It's the difference between a view and a story.

Hoi An: the old port

Hoi An's old town is close enough for a half day, and the ticket to its heritage sites costs 120,000 dong for international visitors. If you're thinking about staying longer, read our Da Nang vs. Hoi An comparison.

Ba Na Hills: the French hill station

Ba Na is now a resort run by Sun World, and the price reflects that: 1,000,000 dong for non-resident adults and 650,000 dong for resident adults. Our history of Ba Na Hills explains how a 1919 French retreat became the Golden Bridge.

Further afield

The 2026 list also includes places most visitors haven't heard of. Dong Giang's Heaven's Gate, in the western highlands, costs 300,000 dong for adults plus 200,000 dong for its cable car. The mural village at Tam Thanh, near Tam Ky, is free. For the coast, see our beach guide.

Before you go

  • Start early. Heat, crowds and afternoon storms all favor the morning.
  • Mind the season. September to December is the rainy season. Island boats, mountain roads and the railway over Hai Van can all be disrupted.
  • Check how to pay. Ask your hotel or the operator whether tickets and boats take cards, and carry some cash in case they don't.

Sources

This story was compiled by the Da Nang Voice news desk from the published sources listed above. Facts, figures and quotes are attributed to those sources; Da Nang Voice did not conduct interviews for it unless the text says so. Corrections are dated and noted at the top of the story. Read our corrections policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.